The Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over the failure of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Law and Justice to file their reports on the steps taken to implement the Court’s earlier directions and curb the menace highlighted before it concerning child sexual exploitation and abuse material.
A Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran was hearing a Miscellaneous Application arising from the Court’s judgment dated September 23, 2024 in Crl. Appeals Nos. 2161-2162 of 2024. The Court had, in its August 14, 2026 order, directed the Union Government through MeitY and the Ministry of Law and Justice to file their respective counter/report.
However, when the matter came up on September 24, the Bench noted that no such counter or report had been placed on record. The Court then highlighted the seriousness of the matter and gave both Ministries one last opportunity to respond.
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“Unfortunately, till this date, no such counter or report has come on record. The matter before us is extremely serious. We give one last opportunity to both the Ministries to file their counter/ report. The counter/ report should explain clearly what steps the two Ministries have taken to give meaningful effect to the directions issued by this Court.”
The Bench directed the Ministries to clearly set out the steps taken to give meaningful effect to the directions issued by the Supreme Court in its main judgment of September 23, 2024. The Court has specifically sought an explanation of what action has actually been taken so far to address the issue raised in the Miscellaneous Application.
The Bench further sought details of the Government’s proposed safeguards concerning social media platforms and intermediaries. It directed that the report must state what precautions would be adopted in the future to prevent lapses by social media intermediaries.
The Court has now posted the matter for October 15, 2026.
